Steam-cooker



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. M. AMOS.

STE-AM COOKER.

(N0 Model.)

No. 566,884. Patented Sept. 1, 1896.

L zy w. I flu m% S M W (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. M. AMOS.

STEAM COOKER. 7 No. 566,884; Patented Sept. 1, 1896.

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V UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE.

ALEXANDER M. AMOS, OF BUFFALO, NETV YORK.

ST AM-COOKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,884, dated September 1, 1896.

Application filed December 17, 1895. Serial No. 572,390. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ALEXANDER M. AMos, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Cookers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to that class of steam-cookers which are divided by removable horizontal plates or diaphragms into a number of compartments in which the meats, vegetables, 850., are cooked. Steamcookers of this kind are shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States Nos. 255,232 and 370,594, granted to me March 21, 1882, and September 27, 1887, respectively.

One of the objects of my present invention is to improve the construction of the low-water signal, so as to render the same reliable and insure an alarm of comparatively long duration.

The invention has the further objects toimprove the construction of the relief or regulating valve whereby a uniform steam-pressure is maintained in the cooker, to provide efiicient means for preventing burning of the bottom of the cooker in case it should boil dry, and to improve the construction of the cooker in other respects.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved cooker in line 1 1, Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a similar section in line 2 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the cooker in line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of the connectin g-tube of the cooking-compartments, showing one of the shields applied to the openings of said tube. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section of the signal-whistle in line 2 2, Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale, looking contrary to the direction of the section of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal section in line 6 6, Fig. 2, looking upward. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section of the cooker, showing a modified construction of the water-sealin g de- Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section thereof in line 8 8, Fig. 7.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A is the body of the cooker, which is pref erably flared upward, as shown, and provided with the usual internal beads or shoulders at for supporting the removable division-plates or diaphragms B B B The latter are provided with the usual rings or loops b for manipulating them.

0 O C are the cooking compartments formed by the diaphragms, and C is the steam-generating chamber in the bottom of the cooker.

D is the cover, which may be of any ordinary construction that insures a steam-tight joint when the cover is pressed down tightly.

E is a filling-tube arranged on the outer side of the cooker and extending to the bottom thereof. Thelower end of this tube communicates with the steam-generating chamber C by an opening e, formed in the wall of the latter, while its upper end is formed with. a suitable spout e, into which the water is introduced.

F is an annular ring, wall, ordam arranged within the steam-generatin g chamber and extending upward from the bottom thereof. This ring is arranged at a short distance from the wall of the cooker, so as to form with said wall and the bottom of the cooker a trough F, into which the water flows from the filling-tube E, and from which it passes into the space inclosed by the ring or dam by overflowing the latter. the level of the inlet-opening 6, so that the water contained in the trough F forms a water seal for the inlet-opening, which prevents the escape of steam and cooking-odors through the filling-tube. This construction permits the upper end of the filling-tube to be left open and thus dispenses with the use of a plug or stopper forthe tube.

G is a steam or signal tube arranged on the outer side of the cooker and extending upwardly from the steam-generating chamber 0 with which latter it communicates by an aperture g, formed in the wall of said chamber below the upper edge of the ring F. The

ring and the trough formed thereby do not extend across this steam-escape aperture g, but the ring terminates on opposite sides of the aperture, as shown at h in Fig. l, and the adjacent ends of the trough F are closed by end walls or flanges h", which are preferably formed by bending the ends of the ring F The ring F extendsabove outwardly and soldering or otherwise securing the same to the wall of the cooker, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. By this construction the steam is free to escape from the steamgenerating chamber into the signal-tube when the water-level descends to the aperture g, and the water is at the same time prevented from leaving the trough except by overflowing its inner wall or ring F. The signal-tube is provided at its upper end with a whistle or audible-alarm device I, through which the steam escapes from the signal tube. The whistle shown in the drawings consists of a three-sided case closed at its top and fitted with its rear side against the adjacent outer side of the cooker-body, so that the latter forms the back of the whistle. The open lower end of the whistle is fitted into the upper end of the signal-tube.

i is the aperture of the whistle, and i a de fleeting-lip extending obliquely from the innerlower edge of the whistle toward the lower edge of the whistle-aperture, whereby the escaping steam is directed against the upper edge of said aperture for sounding the whistle. The upper portion of this deflecting-lip is concave or channeled, as shown in Fig. 3,.

so as to concentrate the escaping steam upon the upper edge of the whistle-aperture.

\Vhen the water-level in the steam-generating chamber is above the steam-outlet aperture g, the steam cannot escape through the signal-tube, but as soon as the level falls below that aperture the steam escapes through the same into the signal-tube, thereby sounding the whistle and giving the low water alarm.

By employing separate filling and signal tubes the whistle may be permanently arranged in the signal-tube, and the same can not therefore become lost or mislaid, which is liable to occur when the whistle is removable, thus always insuring a signal when the cooker requires to be refilled. By this independent arrangement of the filling and signal tubes and the sealing of the filling-tube the steam,when the water-level falls to the escapeaperture g, cannot escape through the fillingtube, but only through the signal-tube, and the alarm-whistle will therefore be sounded until all the water in the steam-generating chamber is evaporated ,thus insuring an alarm of long duration and giving the necessary warning in case the signal is not heard when first given.

In order to prevent the water resulting from condensation of steam from accumulating in the whistle, the latter is provided in one side opposite the base of the deflecting-lip t with a discharge-openingj for such water, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and from this discharge-opening leads a drain tube or conduit J, which connects with the filling-tube E, whereby the water of condensation collecting in the whistle is conducted into the filling-tube, whence it flows into the water-trough F. By this provision no water can lodge in the whistle, thus preventing rusting of the whistle and insuring a clear and loud sound thereof, and the water of condensation is at the same time prevented from trickling down the outside of the cooker and upon the stove.

It is obvious that so far as the water-sealing function of the trough F is concerned it would only be necessary to arrange a narrow trough or receptacle F across the water-inlet opening e of the steam-generating chamber, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8; but the same is preferably extended entirely around the bottom of the cooker, with the exception of the recess h thereof, opposite the steam-escape aperture g, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. By this construction the water in the trough protects the soldered joint or seam of the bottom practically around the entire base of the cooker, so that if for any reason the low-water signal should not be heard and the water in the central portion of the bottom chamber be entirely exhausted the seam will not be burned and become unsoldered, but will remain unimpaired until the water in the trough is exhausted.

In order to give the trough a comparatively large capacity, and at the same time expose a minimum surface thereof to the fire, the ring or inner wall F of the trough is tapered upward in the form of a cone-frustum, and its lower edge is arranged closely to the Wall of the cooker. I This construction of the ring, in connection with the upward flare of the cooker-body, renders the trough much narrower at the bottom than at the top, and, owing to the small exposure of the bottom to the fire resulting from this construction, the water in the trough will not evaporate so rapidly as that in the main central portion of the bottom chamber, thus protecting the bottom seam from injury for some time after the water in the middle of the chamber is exhausted.

The water of condensation from the diaphragms B B B and the cover D flows down the inner surface of the cooker and constantly replenishes the trough, thus furnishing the trough with an additional supply of water and further prolonging the period during which the cooker is protected from injury.

K is the vent tube or passage of the cooker through which the surplus steam is allowed to escape and which is arranged on the outer side thereof and extends downwardly and thence preferably inwardly under the bottom of the cooker, as shown in the drawings. The lower end of this tube is open, while its upper end is closed and formed with an enlargement K.

Z, Fig. 2, is an opening formed in the adjacent wall of the cooker near its upper end, through which the steam in the cooker enters the vent-tube K.

M is a spout or casing arranged in the e11- largement of the vent-tube and covering the escape-opening Z, and N is an automatic regulating-valve applied to the mouth of said spout and controlling the passage of the steam into the vent-tube. This spout or valve-case is three-sided and is tightly fitted at its lower end and sides against the outer side of the cooker-body, while its upper end opens into the surrounding portion of the vent-tube. The upper edge of the spout is preferably inclined toward the wall of the cooker, as shown in Fig. 2. The regulating-valve consists of a flat plate which is seated loosely upon the inclined upper end of the valve -case and which swings vertically upon its inner edge as a fulcrum. The valve-plate is held against displacement by the walls of the vent-tube and remains upon its seat by gravity.

'n is a stop-arm or projection depending from the under side of the regulating-valve and adapted to bear with its free lower end against the inner side of the front wall of the valve-case or spout when the valve is open, as shown by full lines in Fig. 2, so as to limit the upward or opening movement of the valve. By bending this stop-arm so as to stand at a greater or less distance from the outer wall of the valve -case the opening movement of the valve is regulated accordingly. The valve-case is separated from the surrounding vent tube by an intervening steam space or passage 0.

In the use of the cooker a sufficient quantity of Water must be fed into the steam-generating compartment 0 to cover the steam-aperture g, leading to the whistle tube. The regulating-valve retards the escape of the steam. from the cooker and thus maintains a uniform pressure in the various compartments thereof, in a well-known manner, the valve opening and allowing the steam to escape through the vent-tube when the steampressure overcomes the weight of the valve. When the aperture g becomes uncovered by the falling of the water-level, the steam escapes freely through the whistle-tube, reducing the steam-pressure in the cooker, and the valve N thereupon closes and prevents the further escape of steam through the venttube until the steam-pressure in the cooker again rises sufficiently to open the valve, thereby compelling the steam to pass through the whistle and producing alouder signal.

By constructing the regulating-valve of a flat plate and seating the same against the flat upper edge of the valve-case, as shown, a very small surface of the valve is in contact with the case and the same is not liable to adhere to the case by the deposit of sediment or grease on its under side.

The several cooking-compartments may be placed in communication with each other by providing the diaphragms B B B With perforations, but they are preferably connected by means of a vertical tube P, arranged on the outside of the cooker and extending from the top to the bottom thereof. The compartments communicate with this tube by apertures 19, formed in the walls thereof and covered by the tube P. Over the inner side of each of these apertures, excepting the lowermost one, is preferably applied a perforated or gauze guard or shield 19 to prevent clogging of the aperture. Each shield is tightly fitted against the inner wall of the cooker at its upper end and sides, but is separated therefrom at its lower end, as shown in Fig. 4, to afford a free passage for the steam through the aperture. By perforating these shields the steam is free to pass through the same in case their open lower ends should become clogged by the vegetables or other material in the compartments. hen the diaphragms are perforated, the openings therein present raw edges, which rust and are liable to cut the fingers in cleaning them. By providing the connecting-tube P all of the diaphragms, except the lowermost one, may be made solid or imperforate, thus leaving the same smooth and enabling them to be thoroughly cleaned without danger of injuring the hands. The four tubes E G K P are arranged at suitable intervals around the body of the cooker. As they all terminate at the bottom of the cooker, the solder-joints at their lower ends are proteoted from burning by the water-trough F.

If desired, the independent arrangement of the filling-tube E and whistle-tube G may be employed without the use of the water-sealing trough F. In this case the steam-aperture g of the whistle-tube is above the level of the water-inlet opening, as shown in Fig. 1, and the water in the steam-generating cham ber seals the inlet-aperture e. As soon as the water-level falls to the steam-aperture g the steam escapes through the latter and sounds the whistle.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with the body of a steam cooker having a steam generating chamber in its bottom, of an imperforate wall or dam extending upward from the bottom of the steam-generating chamber and arranged in proximity to the surrounding main wall thereof and forming with the latter a separate water-trough from which water is supplied to the steam-generating chamber only by overflowing said dam, and an. inlet or filling tube connected with said water-trough,

substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the body of a steam cooker having a steam generating chamber, provided with, a water-inlet, of a signal-tube communicating with said cham- 1 ber, an imperforate water trough or receptacle arranged in said chamber communicating with said inlet and having its walls extended above the inlet, whereby the water supplied.

to said trough cannot escape into the steamgenerating chamber except by overflowing said trough and whereby the water in the trough forms a seal or closure which prevents the escape of steam through the inlet, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the body of the cooker having a steam-generating chamber provided at or near its bottom with a waterinlet and a steam-escape aperture, of a fillingtube leading to said water-inlet, an annular water-trough arranged in the bottom of said chamber adjacent to the wall thereof and provided opposite said steam-escape aperture with a recess, whereby steam is free to escape through said aperture when the Water-level in the cooker falls below the same, and a signal or whistle tube communicating with said steam-escape aperture, substantially as set forth.

l. The combination with the body of a steam cooker having a steam generating chamber, of a signal tube communicating with said chamber, a whistle communicating with said tube and having a deflecting-lip arranged below the Whistle-aperture and an outlet-opening for the Water of condensation arranged adjacent to said lip, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the body of a steam cooker having a steam generating chamber provided with a filling-tube, of a signal-tube communicating With said generatingchamber and provided with an alarm.-whist1e, and a drain conduit or tube leading from said Whistle to said filling-tube, substantially as set forth.

G. The combination with the stean1-gcner ating chamber of the cooker provided at or near its bottom with a water-inlet and a steamescape aperture, of filling and whistle tubes leading to said water-inlet and steam-aperture, respectively, an annular water-trough arranged in the bottom of said chamber ad-v jacent to the wall thereof and provided opposite said steam-aperture with a recess,a steamvent tube arranged on one side of the cookerbody and extendin g downwardly from a point below the upper end of the body, an upright valve-case arranged in the upper portion of said vent-tube, communicating with the interior of the cooker and having an open upper end forming a substantially-horizontal valve-seat, a gravity-valve consisting of a flat plate resting loosely on said valve-seat, and means whereby said valve-plate is held against displacement on its seat, substantially as set forth.

fitness my hand this 4th day of December, 1895.

ALEXANDER M. AMOS.

lVitnesses:

CARL F. GEYER, KATHRYN ELMORE. 

